Category Archives: Light in the Darkness

“When the servant girl saw Peter standing there, she began telling the others, “This man is definitely one of them!”

But Peter denied it again. A little later some of the other bystanders confronted Peter and said, “You must be one of them, because you are a Galilean.” Peter swore, “A curse on me if I’m lying—I don’t know this man you’re talking about!” And immediately the rooster crowed the second time.

Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And he broke down and wept.” Mark 14:69-72

Probably no man ever wept more agonizing tears than Peter did that night. To be the Lord’s lead disciple, chosen to be an Apostle yet deny the very one he, himself had first declared to be, “The Messiah, the Son of the Living God” must have been unbearable.

It had been so for Judas. We are told that Judas, “Repented himself” and tried to give back the money he had taken for betraying Jesus.

Judas had betrayed Christ to his enemies and Peter’s betrayal that same night was just as deep. Their sins are essentially the same, and Judas was in such anguish that he went out and hanged himself. Judas felt that his sin was unforgiveable.

But what we now know of the Lord’s love we know that no one is beyond forgiveness. Even those you and I might think should be, like Hitler, for instance, would be forgiven if they but turn to Him in repentance.

In taking his own life, Judas put himself beyond the reach of that forgiveness. Peter, on the other hand, though he wept bitterly lived with his guilt and shame until the day Jesus came to him and offered forgiveness.

Early one morning, Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved Him. Three times Peter answered that he did. Without getting into the different words for love that each of them used, let me simply say that through the process, Peter’s heart must have been deeply touched for the Lord’s forgiveness is plain to see.

In light of Peter’s affirmation of love, our Lord instructs him to feed and care for His lambs and sheep. Peter is forgiven.

Is there anything more wonderful than the knowledge that Jesus stands ready and willing to forgive the most ugly sin if the sinner will but turn to him in repentance and receive it?

“It is God’s privilege to conceal things and the king’s privilege to search them out in order to discover them.”

Proverbs 25:2

During the past couple of weeks I have been pointing out some things that God has “concealed” in order to reveal the spiritual lesson He has hidden therein.

We have been looking specifically at the way God uses various numbers to both represent and express spiritual truths. Today, I want to consider the number 12.

This number, as God uses it in scripture, refers to His chosen people and His relationship to them. As such, it also refers to perfection of government, since all government is from God and is a key to how He relates to His people.

Twelve is the number of the people of God, the church, both in the Old Covenant Church of Israel and the New Covenant Church we know today.

For the rest of this story, pick up the Sept. 11 edition of The Valley News. Call 598-6397 to subscribe.

“It is God’s privilege to conceal things and the king’s privilege to search them out in order to discover them.”

Proverbs 25:2

Last week we began to consider how God uses various numbers in His Word to express prophetic or spiritual truths and the challenge for us is to discover the meaning that God has put there.

We saw that the number one, which in our thinking usually represents only singleness (as in, “I have only one dollar.”), in the spiritual realm represents something very different.

The Lord often uses the number one to represent the kind of oneness that comes from absolute unity. It speaks not of one thing in the strict numerical sense that we learned in grade school, but of several individual things as being “one.”

There is oneness to them that is infinitely harmonious. The most perfect example of this, of course is God, Himself, who, though He is clearly one God, exists in three separate persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

A second number in scripture that has significant spiritual meaning is the number seven.

For the rest of this column, pick up the print version of the Valley News. Call 598-6397 to subscribe.

“It is God’s privilege to conceal things and the king’s privilege to search them out in order to discover them.”

Proverbs 25:2

God uses various numbers in His word to express prophetic or spiritual truths. The challenge for us is to discover the meaning that God has put there and not to go beyond to tickle our own or someone else’s fancy.

For instance, the number one, which represents only singleness in its strict numerical meaning, (as in, “I have one dollar” or “There is only one apple left”) in the spiritual realm represents the kind of oneness that comes from absolute unity. It speaks of things that are more than one thing in the strict numerical sense, as being ONE.

For the rest of this story, pick up the print version of The Valley News. Call 598-6397 to subscribe.

“God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning — the sixth day. Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.

By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.”

Genesis 1:31-2:3

In my last column I referred to the first verse in Genesis, which reads, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” I then pointed out that at its very heart, Biblical faith is simply the act of believing what God has said. In the passage that follows that first verse in scripture, we read the order in which God created everything culminating in the verses cited above.

God says that He created everything in six days, even stressing the fact that each one of those days began in the morning and concluded at evening. Why do so many doubt that this is true? Even among Christians, we find many going to great lengths to show that the word “day” means something other than a 24-hour day as we know it.

For the rest of this column, pick up the print version of The Valley News.

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” — Genesis 1:1

I have long marveled at the wisdom of God expressed in this brief opening verse of the Bible. He states the truth and leaves it there, offering no lengthy argument. He offers no list of supporting proofs. Indeed, what higher proof could be possible than the Word of the Living Creator, Himself? He simply says, “In the beginning I created everything” and the reader must take that at face value. And, in fact, the reader’s response to that statement demonstrates whether he or she has faith or does not.

In a recent column, I stated that I have always been intrigued with this Psalm in light of the differences of opinion regarding various types of music and instruments consider “permissible” in a worship service.

Because it is clear that the instruments listed here cover the whole gamut of instrumental types, I have strived to understand why so many Christians I know (myself included) struggle with certain instruments in worship.

I have conclude that there are two major reasons we struggle to accept instruments God has approved.

The first is our past experience with various instruments or types of music. When we hear them, they immediately bring to the forefront the past associated with that instrument and we find ourselves unable to worship with that particular instrument or style of music.

I know that for several years as a new believer I could not worship or center my attention upon the Lord with any music in which drum brushes were used.

The sound brought back associations with a night club I had visited and all the godless lifestyle present in that place.

It was personal. It had nothing to do with the amoral drum brush nor was my inability and indictment against the Christian group using them. I simply could not worship because of the baggage I personally carried with me.

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